Graduate Study in History

Almost all graduate schools feature programs in various fields of History. While some will permit you to earn a Master's degree alone, increasingly they focus on developing PhD's -- the terminal degree that permits a scholar to gain a tenure-track academic position.

As compared to your college experience, graduate study tends to involve much more emphasis on historiography and research: expect smaller classes and almost no lectures, but more independent work and higher expectations for the quality of research, analysis, and writing. Most programs require PhD candidates to demonstrate reading proficiency in one or two additional languages (to permit you to conduct original research and to stay abreast of literature in your field). The final component of the doctoral program is the writing of a book-length dissertation or doctoral thesis that makes an original contribution to the literature in a particular field.

If you are interested in continuing your historical studies, honing your scholarly skills, and preparing for a career teaching and researching history, check out the resources below. They may help you choose graduate programs, write a strong application, and even secure financial aid.

Newly updated system that lets you search based on your preferences for a number of factors, with results based on data collected by the U.S. Education Department, the National Research Council, and the Annual Survey of Earned Doctorates